Look For Levy To Put End To QB Circus

by Pat Moran

Before proceeding let me put this out there right now; this is a one-hundred percent gut feeling. I have not talked to Marv Levy or anyone in the organization regarding this, period. For now, this is unadulterated speculation on my end and should be handled as such.

It's my observation that Marv Levy is not high on J.P. Losman, not one tiny bit. From what I’ve heard he’s about as high on Losman as Larry Brown is with Stephen Marbury. There's something about Losman that Levy doesn't like, and by reading between the lines bringing in a third quarterback for an open competition is anything but an endorsement for the Losman’s future.

Whether anyone concurs with what Levy is doing/has done so far since becoming general manager, there's one thing that is without question; Levy comprehends what it takes to win in the NFL.

Levy also knows that all aspects of the team are imperative but none more so than the quarterback. While the interior lines have and will be continued to be address, Levy knows the quickest path to the playoffs is by having his franchise quarterback. Let’s call it his version of Jim Kelly.

Losman isn't his Jim Kelly.

The Bills pick eighth in the NFL draft. Gossip speculates widely that the pick will be Haloti Ngata, the run-stuffing defensive tackle. Many think it could be Texas defensive back Michael Huff. An offensive tackle like Winston Justice is a possibility.

The feeling here is it will be none of the above. It will be a quarterback.

Just a few weeks ago the consensus was neither Matt Leinart, Jay Cutler or Vince Young would be available at the eighth pick. New Orleans, Tennessee and the New York Jets were expected to gobble them up between picks two through four.

Things have changed. New Orleans just inked Drew Brees to a $60 million dollar deal. The Jets are close to pulling off a trade with Washington for Patrick Ramsey. Tennessee is still likely to draft a quarterback even though Steve McNair will be back for at least one more year and Billy Volek is still on the roster.

The next two teams selecting, Green Bay and San Francisco are not taking a quarterback. The Raiders picking seventh may take one of the big three, even though they have holes all over and drafted Andrew Walter in the third round just one year ago.

Arizona picks tenth but is always a threat to move up for a quarterback despite Kurt Warner signing a three-year extension. Detroit picks ninth but just signed Jon Kitna to compete with Joey Harrington. Both teams desperately need help on the offensive line.

None of the next seven teams picking need a quarterback and any team selecting after would have to give up the farm to move into the top seven.

That leaves Buffalo at pick eight with at least one if not two of the big three on the board to take.

The issue then becomes if Levy feels that Losman is his version of Jim Kelly. Normally this part of the column is where I'd throw stats out to support my point. With Losman that's senseless because everybody knows he was slighted last year due to selfish veterans like Eric Moulds and a game-day dummy coach in Mike Mularkey, who did nothing more than coach for his job.

In one season Losman went from being handed the starting job before training camp to not having a fair shake to keep it by season's end. Still, it's not a promising sign Levy's even exploring other quarterback options.

Secretly, I'm sure head coach Dick Jauron doesn't fancy another Chicago situation; where it was Jim Miller one week, Shane Matthews the next and Chris Chandler the following. Forget the competition is healthy talk he alludes to. He wants his guy from day one of camp. Leave the competition for the special teams, which by the way Buffalo is dominant at.

Nothing brings solidity to an organization quite like an undisputed starting quarterback being your leader. If you don’t believe me, pose this question to Bill Cowher.

I sense Levy worries about Losman mentally. For all his physical gifts, and he has many, one has to wonder about his mental capacity. Not all is his fault; Mularkey did a lot of this to him. What's going to happen if Losman starts the season but struggles early? At what point does Jauron get overly conservative, which fits Losman about as good as a run and shoot offense fits Bill Parcels? How long will it be before teammates start whispering (or shouting) for Kelly Holcomb and a change at quarterback happens?

If Levy could end up with Cutler he'd be idiotic to pass because we already have two. Cutler has a cannon arm every bit as strong as Losman. He also appears mentally sound and didn't have to endure what Losman went through last season, something I cast doubt on Losman mentally recovering from. Cutler has an attitude and swagger to him the Bills haven’t seen since the days of Kelly, and I'm not talking about Holcomb.

With Young things get much more dicey. A lot of critics cite his unorthodox delivery and lack of playing under center in college as a detriment. His mental capacity is now in reservation after the combine. He'd be much more of a project than Cutler. But one thing you can't look past is how successful and poised he was at Texas.

Did everyone forget about the national championship game versus USC? Young nearly single-handedly beat the Trojans. He beat them with his legs. That's physical ability that will make him successful in the NFL. What many don't remember was he was directly on target with almost all of his passes. He didn't force anything down the field; he simply took what USC gave him and when he felt the pressure he took off running. He possesses composure and instincts that can't be taught.

One thing is certain. Kelly Holcomb will not be the guy to take this team anywhere, unless six to eight wins is measured as a fine season.

There’s a plethora of other veteran quarterbacks out there Levy could bring into the mix in Buffalo. Aaron Brooks, Kerry Collins and Gus Ferrotte to name a few. But does what Levy really need is another recycled quarterback on this team in dire need of a leader? The morale of this story folks is Levy is bringing another quarterback into the fray and if Cutler or Young is available it may be much sooner than later. Like it or not, Buffalo is in rebuilding mode. They're not going to overtake New England or even Miami in the AFC East in one year.

Nothing personal against Losman, I actually like him. But the reality remains he was a Tom Donahoe guy. Levy probably likes him as well, but this isn't Donahoe's team anymore. It's Marv's team and by the time the draft is over; he's going to get his Jim Kelly. While a quarterback isn't necessarily a "need" pick, it's the most important player on the team.

Trust me, Marv Levy knows this. He’s not going to play the quarterback shuffle.

The three-ring circus ends on April 29 when either Cutler or Young become the ringmaster.

(email: patmoran2006@yahoo.com)